Foundation Initiatives: Breast Cancer Screening Program

More women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer every year than with any other cancer except skin cancer. One in eight women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. Who is at risk? Most women who get breast cancer have no family history of the disease or other risk factors. Breast cancer can occur at any age, but it becomes more common as a woman gets older. The good news is that when breast cancer is found and treated early, a woman has a good chance of complete recovery.

The purpose of the Breast Cancer Screening Program is to provide free screening services to underserved women who might otherwise do without these services because of income or insurance limitations. Our aim is to make preventive health care for the breast and follow-up treatment accessible to all women and reduce the number of deaths related to breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Screening Program

The goals of the program are to provide:

• a screening mammogram
• a clinical breast examination
• additional diagnostic services when appropriate (such as ultrasound and needle biopsy)
• short and long-term follow-up for participants
• comprehensive referral and follow-up for participants with abnormal findings

Program costs are offset by:

• Foundation funds
• MCHD's Women Cancer Control Program
• State of MD Breast and Cervical Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Program
• The National Race for the Cure Grant
• The Avon Foundation

The Best Defense: Early Detection

The earlier breast cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat. The American Cancer Society recommends the following guidelines for early detection:

Age 40 and over

• Have a mammogram every year
• Have a clinical breast exam by a health care professional every year
• Do a breast self-exam each month

Age 20-39

• Do a breast self-exam each month
• Have a clinical breast exam by a health care professional every year

Symptoms To Watch For:

• Lumps in breast
• Thickening of breast tissue
• Puckering of the skin
• Nipple discharge

Additional Information

For additional information on the breast cancer screening program, call (301) 891-6179.

How You Can Help

Join the Washington Adventist Hospital Foundation in its efforts to raise funds for this invaluable program that relies on grants and gifts from donors to fund these screenings for low-income residents of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. To make a donation to the program, please call the Foundation at (301) 891-6920.